Hannah Arendt on St Paul’s Conception of the Will (and Counter-Will)

The first of several quotes we’ll be reproducing from the seminal philosopher’s chapter “The Apostle Paul and the impotence of the Will” in the second volume of The Life of the Mind:

The Will, split and automatically producing its own counter-will, is in need of being healed, of becoming one again. Like thinking, willing has split the one into a two-in-one, but for the thinking ego a “healing” of the split would be the worst thing that could happen; it would put an end to thinking altogether. Well, it would be very tempting to conclude that divine mercy, Paul’s solution for the wretchedness of the Will, actually abolishes the Will by miraculously depriving it of its counter-will. But this is no longer a matter of volitions, since mercy cannot be striven for; salvation “depends not upon man’s will or exertion, but upon God’s mercy,” and He “has mercy upon whomever he wills, and he hardens the heart of whomever he wills” (Romans 9:16,18). Moreover, just as “the law came in” not merely to make sin identifiable but to “increase the trespass,” so grace “abounded” where “sin increased”– felix culpa indeed, for how could men know the glory if they were unacquainted with wretchedness; how would we know what day was if there were no night?

In brief, the will is impotent not because of something outside that prevents willing from succeeding, but because the will hinders itself. And wherever, as in Jesus, it does not hinder itself, it does not yet exist.” (pg. 70)

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4 comments

I will never understand this paradox of Christ drawing “all” to himself with his death and resurrection and how it relates to hardening the hearts of some. In other words, if he wills all to salvation, why do some reject the Gospel?

Whatever the case, I do appreciate Arendt’s insight into simul justus et peccator.

Just a thought… in John, when Jesus speaks of this, he previously speaks of the fact that this will be the judgment of the world. Maybe this is not exactly about bringing everyone into the fold. Is this related to the fact that every knee will bow when he returns, even those that refuse him? In other words, all people will be drawn to him, but only some will be celebrating being drawn close……

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